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CBC Recommends Linux To Average User

Posted by Zonk on from the penguins-to-the-masses dept.

rustalot42684 writes "The CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] has posted an article on its website promoting the use of Ubuntu Linux to the 'average computer user'. 'With the exception of gaming, which is limited, almost all of the average person's basic computing needs are well looked after with this package. I've used the last three versions of Ubuntu on my main portable web-surfing computer for years just to avoid viruses and spyware (as the vast majority of these nasty programs are written for Windows), and I have yet to be disappointed.' The author seems to have made some sweeping generalizations about the development of GNU/Linux, but that aside, will mainstream media coverage help more people switch?"

6 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. The CBC is generally forward thinking... by Goalie_Ca · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The CBC has been pretty good about open standards and open source. I, along with over 70k other people, download the 1 hour free podcasts showcasing canada's independant music. These podcasts come in OGG format too! Recently they started a second podcast and a track of the day feature. The french canadian (bap.fm) also has an hour of free music per week mostly showcasing montreal area and french canadian music.

    The CBC has been very responsive to complaints, comments, etc. Check it out at http://radio3.cbc.ca/podcasting/podcastplaylist.as px

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    Go canucks, habs, and sens!
  2. Every little bit counts. by greenguy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There are an awful lot of people out there who only know what they get from the mass media. This article, and others like it, will serve to raise Linux from "Mysterious and Scary" to "Mysterious, but Substantially Less Scary."

    My year of Linux on the desktop was 2002, but I've also had a lot frustrations along the way... including with the upgrade to my Ubuntu upgrade today. I eventually solved it by using vim to comment out lines 543 and 544 (not lines 541 and 542, like it said in the Ubuntu Forums) of /usr/bin/pycentral. This is not something I want to have to explain to my mom, my girlfriend, or my neighbor -- nor do I want to do it for them.

    I had a sad realization today, reading an earlier Slashdot post. To beat Windows (much less Mac OS) on the desktop of people who are not early adopters, Linux does not have to be as good -- as I believe it is, on balance. Rather, it has to be better, and conspicuously better.

    For some people, this will mean games. For others, multimedia. For still others, CAD, or other occupation-specific apps. But for everyone, it means "When I want to do _______, it better work on the first try."

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    What if I do the same thing, and I do get different results?
  3. Re:Boy, THIS one is easy. by smilindog2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Agreed. IMO, the real power of Ubuntu isn't lowering the bar for average users, but lowering the bar for average IT professionals. I know several who have tried Ubuntu, and while they're not ready to give up their jobs doing Windows administration, Ubuntu is on their radar. However, the real power and draw of Linux is what we geeks can do with it. It's by far the worlds best platform for expressing our creative art of programming, and sharing our work with others. I've stopped worrying about what the rest of the world wants. Linux fills my needs like no other system ever built.

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    Beer is proof that God loves us, and wants us to be happy.
  4. Bandwidth usage limitations in the 3rd world by Phoinix · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In countries where you are allowed a limited amount of download/upload per month/pay, using Linux can be a pain in the neck. Downloading the updates may consume your monthly broad-band account in a day or two. Lebanon is one example.

    Many third world countries has download & upload limitaions on their broadband with no choice of a free unlimited option.

  5. Re:Boy, THIS one is easy. by dorath · · Score: 3, Interesting

    IMO, the real power of Ubuntu isn't lowering the bar for average users, but lowering the bar for average IT professionals. I know several who have tried Ubuntu, and while they're not ready to give up their jobs doing Windows administration, Ubuntu is on their radar.
    Yeah, that's me. I'm the guy my buddies call when OMG WINDOWS EXPLODE. I'm kinda tired of it, and I've started using Ubuntu at home. I really like it, and aside from the plethora of Windows games it does everything I need and more. To be fair, for the amount of gaming I can get in these days, the number of native linux clients and the amount of stuff that runs well on WINE is enough. I've zero interest in WoW, and consider it a good thing that I can't get EQ2 going on WINE. ;-)

    Back to the point: I'm a guy comfortable with Windows. One of the lucky few who doesn't have problems with it. But I'm tired of it. And if I let my friends know that Ubuntu is a good thing, they'll believe me.
  6. Re:Boy, THIS one is easy. by Medgur · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My girlfriend was a typical "get frustrated first, ask how to fix it later" windows user; with just enough knowledge to make her way about excel, word, and a web browser. Her computer became horribly broken from trojans and viruses and rather than doom myself to an endless succession of repairs I /handed her an ubuntu CD/. I didn't install ubuntu, I gave her the CD and told her that she merely needed to restart her computer with the CD in the drive to install it, being sure to email her personal data to herself before hand.

    You know what? She prefers linux. Can use linux. Doesn't become frustrated with Linux.

    She scoffs at Windows now.

    I don't know this average computer user you speak of, but the one I know well coped just fine with using Ubuntu.